As directed by the Emperor, Prince Susheem came back to Patliputra to find that the special business was no more than a father’s desire to see his son.
He met his other brothers who were also agitated about Ashoka getting preferential treatment. Almost all of them were jealous and green with envy. Susheem was posing as an aggrieved party. May be, he genuinely felt so.
One of the brothers sympathised with the eldest prince, ‘‘It was really an indirect insult to our esteemed brother eldest here. When he was already there in Taxila why was he not allowed to deal with the rebels? Brother Ashoka was sent there over Brother Susheem’s head. It was a deliberate attempt to belittle the elder one and promote the younger one.’’
Other prince revealed, ‘‘A few days ago I went hunting with my friend Abhanga, the son of the chief minister. He told me that Ashoka was sent there because his father and the Emperor thought that brother Susheem was too soft and kind hearted whereas the situation demanded ruthless handling, otherwise the rebels would have seized Taxila. I don’t know how much truth there was in it.’’
‘‘May be that talk was a ploy to apply balm to brother Susheem’s hurt. There is something very fishy about whole of this affair. None of the others present here was even asked if we wished to handle the rebel problem. Isn’t that true?’’
The youngest prince laughed. The other sibling princes looked sharply at him with annoyed looks.
Susheem asked, ‘‘Why do you laugh brother dear?’’
‘‘Well, I apologize sir. It was not meant to offend you or any other elder brother. Just the dear brother’s contention that Emperor father should have asked us too if any of us wished to deal with the rebels, sounded so funny to me. I couldn’t help laughing.’’
‘‘What is funny about it?’’
‘‘How could Emperor father ask us our wish? We are never around. Brother Sambhava is always in the forests chasing wild boars, spotted deer and dealing death to poor ducks.’’
Sambhava protested, ‘‘Akshay! That is a gross exaggravation. I go hunting just once or twice a week.’’
The youngest prince continued ignoring the protest, ‘‘Brother Sakshama remains permanently imprisoned in the slender armholds of his beautiful consort Vakshala. And brother Iardhana is ever busy in wondering over the pretty foot movements of the court danseus Varmala. As far as I am concerned the father thinks I am still trapped in the gilli-danda age. And brother Ashoka cleverly kept himself close by readily available ever.’’
The referred to brothers looked sheepish and red faced.
Susheem didn’t like it. He tried to bring in some seriousness by saying, ‘‘It is no laughing matter Vikarma. We are discussing a grave matter. I even suspect that all that rebel uprising could be Ashoka’s handicap. He has a coterie of very cunning and scheming people.’’
Vikrama shook his head, ‘‘Brother. That is just impossible. Taxila is too far off to work out that kind of conspiracy without anyone knowing about it. I have been in touch with him most of the time. I could have got wind of it. Respected brother, you have little reason to complain. Everyone has admitted that you are very kind and gentle. Aren’t those noble qualities one should be proud of? Those are the qualities subjects love to see in their ruler. I think that father’s remarks were indirect compliment to you.’’
Sambhava grudgingly conceded the point to the youngest prince, ‘‘Our little brother is quite intelligent. What he is saying makes sense and I think we must see this thing in that light.’’
Sakshama spoke, ‘‘And we must admit that Ashoka did put down the rebellion with an iron hand in quick time although ruthlessly. That is what Emperor father wanted.’’
Susheem shook his head sadly, ‘‘But how it was done should also be considered. He went on a killing spree. No prisoners were taken. Even the family members of the rebels were brutally eliminated. Not only that those common folk who were suspected of having soft corner for the rebels have been divested of their lands and properties. The whole lot of them are begging now. That is too much. We will lose the sympathy of the people.’’
‘‘I know he is a bit too harsh. But what are we going to do? The father won’t hear anything against Ashoka. We shall be seen as the jealous brother.’’
‘‘At least we can let the ministers and courtiers know about our disapproval of the overzealous ruthlessness and the brutality. It will hurt our interests in the long run,’’ Susheem opined.
‘‘We will do it individually to different people in an indirect way. We must not appear as sob sisters. And we can’t make Ashoka our enemy,’’ Vikarma suggested.
The other brothers agreed and they broke up.
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